This may not surprise those of you who interview candidates, but qualifications and skills are the things that often get you to the interview. After that, you're often judged on more than just your capabilities: Interviewers are eager to see if you're a fit for their work environment, or someone they'd actually want to see and work with every day. That means it's even more important to do your homework before showing up for the interview.

If you're wondering why so many companies ask questions like "What's your favorite movie," and "What's your dream job," it's not because they're actually want to know—they're trying to figure out whether you'll be a good fit for the environment and the other people already on staff. In most cases, interviewers are trying to figure out whether or not you're someone they would enjoy working with, and according to a new survey by Glassdoor and a new study published in the American Sociological Review (PDF), those cultural factors can play a greater role than your skills or background.

Job applicants were also asked what they valued in a workplace, and cultural fit—or a work environment they enjoyed going to every day—was second on the list, just behind salary. So what do you do to make sure you're a good cultural fit for the company you're applying to? Research the company beforehand, connect with them on social media, and do your homework. Most companies freely discuss their corporate culture on their sites, on Facebook, on LinkedIn, and so on. Look up what you can about the department you're applying to, or your interviewer personally.

At the same time, make sure you use the job interview as an opportunity to learn about the culture of the team you'll be working with: ask them some of those similar questions, and have a genuine conversation in your interview. You'll stand a much better chance at getting the job, and you'll walk out of the interview knowing that you're not only eager to get the job, you'll be working with a great group of people.